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New York Post
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
This is the most expensive cup of coffee in NYC — but many think the price is a sick cup of Joe-k
You must be joe-king. The Big Apple's most expensive cup of coffee is being brewed by a UK company in the heart of Manhattan — but opinions are far from blended on whether the caffeine is worth the pricetag. WatchHouse is hawking its 8-oz cup of La Negrita pourover at a jaw-dropping $28, a figure they justify based on the years-long process it takes to get the beanwater in front of their coffee-obsessed customers. 7 The La Negrita coffee at WatchHouse costs $28, making it the most expensive in the Big Apple. Matthew McDermott Time Out New York called the coffee drink — which comes on a platter alongside a green tea palate cleanser — a '$28 investment poured in a glass vessel.' La Negrita is the priciest cup on the shop's Rarities pourover menu, which includes five others ranging from $14 to $28, and even briefly peddled a $58 limited edition option. At the time, the UK-based shop was hawking as many as 400 cups per month across its two Manhattan locations. At that price, a WatchHouse barista making $18.92 per hour would need to spend 90 minutes crafting La Negritas before they could afford their own — but the intensive labor it takes to make each cup is exactly what makes it close so much. 7 The La Negrita comes on a serving tray with a small green tea palate cleanser. Matthew McDermott 7 It could take as long as five years to grow the rare beans and turn them into beanwater. Matthew McDermott 'This takes quite a bit of equipment and a lot of labor, and also a strong understanding of science and what's happening during fermentation to get the profile that you want,' explained coffee lead Sachi Patel. The La Negrita drink is produced from the 'rare and so difficult to produce' Gesha bean, which takes up to five years before it can be plucked and shipped to a UK roastery. 'After the coffee is roasted, our senior coffee team in the UK will do quite a bit of recipe testing to find out the best water temperature and brewing method to brew the coffee at and then that will be communicated with all of head baristas at each location, who will make sure that the coffee is tasting the way we want it to,' said Patel, adding that the perfected beans are then finally fermented for 36 hours before being bottled for preservation. 7 Harrison Huang said the coffee and experience was well worth the $28 price. Katherine Donlevy/NY Post 7 WatchHouse offers six coffees from is Rarities menu, ranging in price from $14 to $28. Matthew McDermott The lengthy history is communicated to the customer during service, much like at a wine tasting — which could be an integral part of the price. The Post conducted a blind taste test with New Yorkers on the street in which they were asked to guess the price. Most loved the taste, but were appalled to learn the $28 price tag. 'That's pretty heinous,' Graham O'Donnell said, even though he admitted the coffee was delicious. 7 'At $28 I'm going to see my Bodega man, put some weight at the bottom. We'd just be chilling and then I'd buy another cup,' said Jared Hunter. Matthew McDermott Similarly, Jared Hunter gawked at the cost, saying, 'At $28, I'm going to see my Bodega man, put some weight at the bottom. We'd just be chilling and then I'd buy another cup.' Mohammad Ishmail estimates he hawks about 500 cups of $2 coffee at his breakfast cart just around the corner from WatchHouse's 5th Avenue location, describing his clientele as mostly construction and blue-collar workers. 'Coffee is coffee. That's what matters. At 5 o'clock in the morning, I have one and that's good for me,' said Ishmail, who has been running his truck since 2010. 7 The Post conducted a blind taste test with New Yorkers on the street in which they were asked to guess the cost of an 8 oz cup. Matthew McDermott WatchHouse's Rarities line certainly has a loyal cult following; however, with coffee lovers like Sarah Allmon, who emphasized the experience wasn't for the average Dunkin' enthusiast. 'This is their bread and butter. They're willing to go the extra mile to get a really good pour-over. I think if you're someone that's really chasing that specialty coffee or seeing what is the unique option out there, I think that the rarities would definitely pull your interest,' Allmon, 31, of the Upper East Side said, rating WatchHouse as one of the top 5 of the nearly 100 coffee shops she's ever visited in the Big Apple. Harrison Huang — who described himself as a 'really big coffee person' — agreed, telling The Post he stopped by WatchHouse as part of a self-conducted tour of several other high-end coffee shops during his trip to the Big Apple. 'For me, the most interesting part is to try different coffee beans and how the coffee shop is using their technique to kind of display — that's a fun way to look at it, too,' explained Harrison Huang, 31, of Los Angeles, who was sipping on a $14 Pepe Jijon, his second cup of the his trip to WatchHouse after trying a $23 Abu Lot. 'I'm not always looking at the coffee bean, but also the machine they're using and how they are approaching this plane … the whole environment is what I'm looking for.'
Time Out
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Let Me Tell You: This coffee shop inside the Chrysler Building is selling $28 coffee. Here's why I think it's worth it.
'Let Me Tell You' is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday, so you're hearing from us each week. Last time, Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter talked about how bars and restaurants are going beyond rainbow drinks for Pride this year. Not too long ago, I'd tell you that I wasn't the biggest coffee drinker. But then two things happened. One: I moved to New York. Two: In the same year I arrived, I won free coffee for a year (shout out to Burly Coffee in Bed-Stuy), which, at the time, was a good five steps away from my apartment door. Let's just say it is easy to pinpoint when my love affair began. Yet, many, and I mean many, lattes later, I fully maintain that I am no coffee connoisseur. I don't wax poetic about the origin of beans and I can't fully tell you what a flat white is. Yet, one of my treasured weekend rituals is taking my dog to the park for off-leash hours in the AM and bopping around to one of the many nearby coffee shops on the walk home, truly a treat for both of us. Nowadays, my tastes still lean toward lattes over a more reasonable cup of just black coffee, making for a habit that runs me $7 to $8 a visit, tip always included. So, color me surprised when I found out that my overpriced latte was actually a steal, especially when the hot new cup in town sells for up to $52 for a pour-over. One of the most expensive cups of coffee in New York can be found at WatchHouse. The second outpost of the U.K.-based import made its debut last month (the first opened on Fifth Avenue last spring). The price certainly fits the packaging, as the shop sits at the base of one of the most iconic skyscrapers to grace the Manhattan skyline: the Chrysler Building. Certainly taking a page from its Art Deco landlord, the interior features brushed stainless steel and a nine-foot oculus that overlooks the espresso bar. There are standing tables for a quick cup on the go and booths upholstered in a soft yellow, with marble tables before them, welcoming a sit and stay. If you post up near the rear of the shop, you can peek out onto the Chrysler's grand marble lobby without the security guard yelling, 'No pictures!' Among its everyday program of espresso, flat whites and cold brew, plus teas, matchas and the like, the menu is also home to a Rarities program. Once an exclusive offering available only at the Hanover location, all U.K. and U.S. outposts feature a curated collection, offering exclusive coffees sourced from around the world. These limited-edition beans come at a cost, ranging from $14 to $52. When I visited the location, the highest cup of joe clocked in at $28, and since I'm not planning on buying a house anytime soon, I ordered it. But before you blanch at the cost and call me an elitist, I am here to tell you that the tasting goes beyond what you find in the pot. The staff really made the overall experience. On my visit, coffee lead Sachi Patel guided me through a tasting. While her everyday deals in roasts and beans, Patel is the first to admit she wasn't a coffee drinker. Five years ago, she didn't really drink it when she started working at a specialty coffee shop in Florida. But as she learned about the background and the history of the beans, she grew an interest in everything coffee, drawn to the combination of science and the art of the pour. Moving to New York to make coffee her career, Patel began working at Midtown's coffee shop and roastery, Little Collins, where she spearheaded their coffee ordering and tasted multiple varieties along the way. Last year, she joined the WatchHouse team as a barista to prepare for their first U.S. location, and now she oversees both coffeehouses as lead. Among day-to-day coffee making and training, Patel's role is to instill the same drive for coffee that she once experienced, including ensuring each barista is well-versed in the beans they brew, including Rarities. 'So for each Rarity, everyone needs to know the process—the origin, the varietal and the tasting notes—to understand the experience,' said Patel. More than the technical side of measuring beans and heating water to optimal temperatures, Patel's function is to involve the guest in the story behind the bean. 'We want to talk to guests about the coffee, we want to share the stories. It's not just tasting it, it's also learning about it.' A quick chat with Patel yielded plenty of info about the program as a whole, from how the beans are frozen to preserve aromatics and acidity to the scores attached to coffees—80 and above is specialty, anything below is commercial. But on the specific bean I selected, the La Negrita, she was just as well-versed, speaking about the Colombian farm from where it was sourced to how the flavor would blossom through the tasting as the temp would eventually drop from hot to cold. Post-educational chat, she presented the tasting on a wooden tray, which came with one cup for enjoying, a palate cleanser of a light green tea and my $28 investment poured in a glass vessel. The tray also came with a small black card featuring a QR code on the back, which told the story of the region and included tasting notes accompanied by images of the farm and the workers who cultivated the cup. The only thing left was to actually try the dang thing. Fresh and hot from the pour over, it was a light, fruit-forward roast, with jammy blackberry on the nose and palate. As it cooled, even more profiles came to a head, including kiwi and raspberry. I tried my best to taste gingerly, counting the dollar signs per sip in my head, while also trying to appreciate the cup in front of me. Yet, like I said, I am no connoisseur. Near the end, the fruit and growing acidity notes all blended together. Regardless, I spent a good 20 minutes simultaneously enjoying and deciphering the contents of my cup before draining it. Bottom line: Is the $28 coffee worth it? If your idea of coffee is a lukewarm cup of bean water that caps at $3, probably not. And that's okay, too. However, if you are even slightly curious about what goes into your coffee, then absolutely. For me, it was nice to sit a spell and actually take in the cup in front of me instead of sucking it down in between train rides and meetings. Not only that, but the educational aspect guided by a well-versed staff gives a needed perspective, surely to entice coffee newbies and connoisseurs. Therein lies the point for Patel, as she hopes guests leave the experience wanting to learn more about their daily ritual. 'It's very similar to wine, in the way that there's so much detail and there's so much hard work that goes into the product,' said Patel. 'Coming away with a little bit more respect and a little bit more curiosity to it is one of our goals.' Check out the video of the tasting below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out New York (@timeoutnewyork)
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
ACT cop accused of horrific comments to 17-year-old at watch house
WARNING: This story includes references to Indigenous death and self-harm. Shocking comments from an ACT watch house officer to a 17-year-old boy have sparked outrage around the country. The incident allegedly took place after the Indigenous boy was arrested last year. Footage played during a recent ACT Supreme Court hearing showed the officer asking the boy whether he was thinking of taking his own life, then goading him after he gave an answer. The officer allegedly asked 'Are you thinking of necking yourself?'. When the boy replied that he was not, the officer allegedly said 'You wouldn't have the guts to do it anyway.' Several officers standing behind the teenager – none of whom made the offensive comment – can be seen smirking in the vision, according to the Canberra Times which first reported the story. The Times reports that the same sergeant asked the teen — who was in foster care — if he had parents. He replied 'Nah'. 'No parents? You just magically appeared on the face of the Earth?' the sergeant replied. In a statement sent to ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said the officer's actions 'are unacceptable and will not be tolerated'. 'I hold everyone in ACT Policing to high standards of professionalism and integrity, as do our officers, and this is in line with community expectations,' he said. 'The comments of the officer during a Watch House intake in 2024 are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 'It falls well below the standards expected of our officers and was dealt with swiftly after the incident occurred with the matter currently being investigated by AFP Professional Standards.' He said that while the investigation continues, 'appropriate action has been taken to ensure the seriousness of the incident was understood'. A young Aboriginal leader, Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil, posted a video on his popular social media channels calling out the incident. 'I hate making videos about negative things, but this is f***ing very important because I bet you didn't hear about it,' he said. 'Although this video might make you angry, I do not mean to divide anyone. All I want from this is for people who believe that Australia is not a racist country — those people say so because it doesn't say it legally anywhere. 'What they do not understand is this treatment is not a one-off. This happens all the time. 'This officer looked at a 17-year-old boy and he said 'are you thinking about necking yourself?' Two of the other coppers who were standing next to this man started smirking and smiling. And this officer had already mocked this kid for not having parents because he was in foster care. 'I am angry at the police that did this but I'm angry that this type of hatred towards other people exists'. The Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, called the incident 'abhorrent misconduct'. 'In the context of the horrifying and ongoing epidemic of Aboriginal deaths in custody in this jurisdiction and across Australia, this comment can be seen as a deliberate incitement to an Aboriginal child to end his life,' she said in a statement. 'What is even more horrific is the young person is a survivor of forcible removal … the police interrogation used against this young person by police is shameful.' Professor Hannah McGlade from Curtin University researches issues around Indigenous human rights and issues in custody. She was horrified when she learned about the officer's comments. 'It was horrific that a young vulnerable Aboriginal boy is being taunted to commit suicide at the watch house,' she told 'And being goaded. Do people not know the leading cause of death for young Aboriginal boys is suicide? Do they think it's a laughing matter? ' This is about inflicting mental trauma. Severe trauma,' she said.'The kind of trauma that can lead to a child that can take their own life. 'How much more cruel could you be? I'm a family foster carer and that weighs heavily. It beggars belief. We simply haven't tackled racism in this country. We're criminalising the most vulnerable children in Australia.
Tom's Guide
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I went to the 'biggest coffee party on earth' — and these 5 coffee gadgets caught my attention
The London Coffee Festival is the highlight of my year, every year. As a Homes Editor who writes about the best coffee makers on a daily basis, I feel right at home surrounded by independent roasters and innovative coffee gear. And if you're wondering how many espressos I drank, I think I blacked out after coffee number 9. But even countless coffees didn't stop me from pining after the latest and greatest coffee tech the "biggest coffee party on earth" had to offer. From AeroPress to Fellow, I saw some seriously cool tech that I can't stop thinking about. Be warned: not all of these products are available to buy yet, and some of them are still in development. But if this coffee tech is a sign of the innovations to come, I think my job's safe for another year. I got to the festival bright and early on opening day and made an immediate beeline for the new Fellow Espresso Series 1. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea. The machine was so swamped by coffee obsessives, you'd think we were at a movie premiere. On round 2 though, I managed to get up close and personal with Fellow's first espresso machine. And oh boy, is it even prettier in person. The finish is clean, sleek, modern and surprisingly neat. I was mentally sizing it up, trying to figure out if I had room on my (already laden) countertops. I tried (and failed) to suss out of we could expect a new espresso grinder to go with the Espresso Series 1 from some very tight-lipped Fellow employees. No matter, because the espresso made for me by London's iconic Watch House coffee roasters (using Fellow's Opus grinder) completely blew my socks off. Although I'm more than a little gutted that I'll have to wait around 6 months to try it for myself and see if it deserves a spot in our best espresso machine roundup, it was great to see this machine in action. If you preorder the Series 1 , you can get it for $1,199 plus $100 in Fellow Drops credits. For my fellow Europeans, pre-orders have yet to open. The Pietro is hands-down the prettiest hand grinder I've ever seen. It feels incredibly luxe, too. The cold steel finish and upright construction make it totally fitting for a permanent home on your countertops. Brought to the market by Italian brand Fiorenzaro, which specializes in electric grinders, the Pietro is a tribue to founder Pietro Fiorenzaro. The Pietro claims to usher in "the vertical revolution", featuring 58mm flat vertical burrs which can take you from espresso all the way through to filter coffee. It's available in a range of gorgeous colors on the company's website. There's U.K. distribution from Sigma Coffee for £360, and U.S. distribution through Seattle Coffee Gear for $475. The xbloom might not be new to you, but it's new to me. Available for U.K. distribution finally through BrewedByHand, this is the first time I've been able to get my hands on this game-changing drip brewer. And why did nobody tell me just how smart this thing is? My first impression was a sip from a fresh-brewed carafe, which was astoundingly good. Juicy, fresh, vibrant. Exactly my kind of drip coffee, and not the sort of thing I'd be able to achieve at home without some serious hands-on adjustments to my setup. The xbloom does this all for you, allowing you to tap an NFC tag agsinst the top of your machine, which will automatically adjust the settings for the perfect result, with zero experimentation needed. Everything has been thought through with the xbloom. It's got a super sensitive in-built scale for more manual brewing, and its attachments allow you to use it as a grinder for espresso or other brewing methods. Even as it brews, its water flows in a circle (like you'd pour it with a gooseneck kettle) and the machine lightly shakes the brewing cup to agitate the grounds, reducing clumping. I'm going to need this in my kitchen ASAP. It's available for U.S. readers for $599 at Confession time: I've never tried the AeroPress. But if I was to try one, I think it'd be the new Go Plus. It's totally portable, pouring coffee directly into a tumbler that also doubles as a storage container when you're done. Plus, it comes in pink. The custom travel tumbler comes with a magnetic leak-resistant lid and a built in filter holder, meaning I could take it on those family trips where you're otherwise stuck drinking instant coffee. As a newly-minted coffee snob, some portable coffee gear is becoming an essential. The Go Plus is $89.95 or £85.99 and comes in three colors. A suspiciously sparse stall caught my eye as I made a final, jittery sweep of the festival. The brand is LinkBar, and it could well be the future of coffee shops. This under-counter coffee and milk dispenser system looks and performs like a high-end faucet, but the milk and coffee it dispensed was far superior to the sort of coffee you'll get in offices and even some mainstream coffee shops. I loved my little latte, and it took less than 15 seconds to pour. The microfoam was fine and full of texture, and the coffee had a dark punchiness that would definitely satisfy the average Starbucks consumer. I suspect my employer is more than a few years away from investing in this kind of coffee tech, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw LinkBars popping up in major corporate spaces or even coffee shops in the coming years. If this is the future of coffee, I can confirm that it tastes delicious.
